Discardable hygienic device

ABSTRACT

A discardable hygiene device used as hygienic element for ready-to-drink beverage that are packed in aluminum cans (L) including a labial mouthpiece hygienic device ( 1 ) made from a plastic material panel, that has a half-moon shape or similar, being able to compose support edges ( 2 ) interweaved by the internal arched ( 3 ) in suitable ratio. An external side ( 4 ) has ideal conformation and dimension that allows the device to be fitted in a plan way on the cover (T) of the can (L). The hygienic device ( 1 ) has a bottom face, more particularly in the bottom contour on the arched side ( 3 ) which is folded in the shape of a grab ( 5 ), where the thickness (x) is dimensioned due to the thickness of the cover (T) opening pourer (V) border. The hygienic device ( 1 ) is packed in a protection capsule ( 6 ), thermo sealed, making a kit that is supplied together with the can (L). The device incorporates a labial mouthpiece element for liquid outflow inside the can ensuring that a user does not to touch his/her lips on the can cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a labial mouthpiece discardablehygienic device that was developed to be applied together with aluminumcans opening pourer; the kind that contains ready-to-drink beverages.Such device comprises a small plastic panel, preferably in a half-moonshape and that presents one of the surfaces provided of fast fittingmeans on the cans' opening pourer, being a labial mouthpiece for pouringthe liquid inside the can and ensuring that a user does touch his/herlips on the cover, or even the liquid that leaves the can also does nottouch the external wall.

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known that aluminum cans' beverage dealer emporiums such asrestaurants, bars, supermarkets, and others, by purchasing a specificamount of cans, keep them stored in warehouses, rooms, and other places.Normally, the cans are stored with low hygiene conditions, letting thecans subjected to contaminations from a variety of animals and insects,once they deposit residues, where they pass by, which become fungus andbacteria and for many times remains in the can surface. Consumer byacquiring beverage cans, not paying attention, automatically opens itand puts his/her lips to drink the liquid having the risk to ingest atthis moment all dirtiness accumulated on the surface of such a can.

It is rare to find consumers who are concerned about cleaning around theopening pourer before drinking the liquid, and because of it manydiseases are caught without even knowing their origin, diseases that,depending on the bacteria, may even kill.

By trying to prevent from or decrease such occurrences, well-knownthermoplastic seals are presented as a ring that involves the reentrancepart of the cover and body of the can, besides small top and bottom partof the body. Such ring, although representing the concern of protectingthe opening, is inconvenient due to the fact of not adhering to metalthereby allowing creation of tiny spaces wherein occurs dirtinessaccumulation, thus, helping the proliferation of fungus and bacteriatherein.

Other similar seals have already been developed, but many of them areinefficient or aggregate high industrial values that end up makingimpracticable their incorporation to beverage cans.

Therefore, it is noticed the actual offered protection does not preventfrom contamination making the consumer the responsible one for localhygiene before consuming the beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In order to present a discardable hygienic device with characteristicsdifferent from the ones presented in the state of art so far ofundermost cost, high scale of production, and easy to use by consumer,the applicant herein developed a discardable device using it as labialmouthpiece to be fitted in the aluminum cans opening pourerready-to-drink, such device was developed from a plastic panel,preferably atoxic PVC, discardable and recyclable especially developedin accordance with ideal dimensions aiming the device, packed in asealed protection capsule. The advice may be supplied together with thebeverage can, preferably positioned immediately on the can cover surfaceand fitted over the rupture ring, thereby allowing that such ringremains in such position until the moment the consumer tears the sealfrom the opening pourer through the ring when, then, the consumer hasaccess to the mouthpiece device being able to manipulate it in order toput it in the cans' opening pourer as explained hereafter.

Labial mouthpiece hygienic device presents an inferior grab, morespecifically coming from internal edge of the half-moon, setting an “L”folding with designed thickness to be fitted on the pourer openingborder.

Thus, having the hygienic device already taken out from the sealedpackage, a user needs just to fit the grab on the opening pourer inorder to make the panel to become arched and in an angled way projectedin relation to the can's cover and the body. Hence, by approximating thelips to consume the product, consumer only touches the labial mouthpiecedevice avoiding labial contact with parts of the can that may havedirtiness.

Only as an addendum, by the fact the covering capsule in seal shape ismade of plastic, it can be impressed with publicity in general beingable to contain promotional means.

In order to better fix the device together with the can cover before itsopening, protection capsule can be fixed to the said cover through gluepoints or another way. Said fixation may be done not only on the coversurface, but also on the bottom or side external surface of the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the present invention so that to obtain a betterunderstanding of the inventive characteristics and in accordance with apreferential performance of it, it follows attached with the descriptiona set of drawings wherein, as examples but not limited to, it isrepresented as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates in a schematic way the labial mouthpiece hygienicdevice herein treated disposed in its ordinary position, that is, on thecan cover;

FIG. 2 illustrates the can with the pourer opening already opened by therupture ring and the hygienic device of labial mouthpiece in explodedposition still involved by the protection capsule;

FIG. 3 shows the hygienic device fitted in the opening pourer ready tobe used by the consumer;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cut of the mentioned hygienic device fitted inthe opening pourer;

FIG. 5 illustrates another form of disposition of the labial hygienicdevice herein treated wherein it is positioned under the can which isshowed from its inferior angle;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view showed in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 illustrates another form of disposition of the labial hygienicdevice herein treated wherein it is positioned on the side of the can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to illustrated drawings, the present invention refers to aDISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE, more particularly it refers to a labialmouthpiece device (1) used as hygienic element for ready-to-drinkbeverage that are packed in aluminum cans (L), such hygienic device (1)that was developed from a plastic panel, preferably atoxic, flexible andlow hardness PVC attending a range from 25 to 40 Shore A, discardableand recyclable; such panel has a half-moon shape or similar, being ableto compose support edges (2) interweaved by the internal arch (3) insuitable ratio while external side (4) of half-moon has idealconformation and dimension that allows the device to be fitted in thespace limited by the cover (T) of the can (L).

Device placement (1) on the opening pourer (V), besides preventing thecontact of the liquid inside the can (L) with possible dirtinessdeposited on the can's cover, prevents also the occurrence of accidentsthat involve cuts in children or people that, negligently put theirtongues or fingers on the referred opening pourer, can region thatpresents laminar and cutting thickness.

With the hygienic device placement (1) in the opening pourer (V) suchrisk is eliminated since the inferior grab (5) coming from internal edgeof the half-moon coats with plastic all contour of the opening pourercreating a pellicle that prevents from accidents.

Hygienic device (1) bottom face, more specifically in the arched side(3) inferior contour has disposed a folding in the shape of a grab (5),where the thickness (x) is dimensioned due to the thickness of the cover(T) opening pourer (V) border.

Hygienic device (1) is packed in a protection capsule (6), thermosealed, making a kit that is supplied together with the can (L),preferably positioned on the cover (T) surface and fitted above therupture ring (A), then allowing the protected encapsulated (6) hygienicdevice (1) to remain on this position until the moment the consumerruptures the seal from the opening pourer (V) through the ring (A),moment in which the consumer has access to the mouthpiece hygienicdevice (1) being able to manipulate it in order to fit it on the openingpourer (V) through fitting contour(5).

In such position, the device acquires an arched form once the edges (2)support each other on the can cover and beside the opening pourer (V)keeping the edge arched coinciding to the opening curve; the devicepanel in an angled way projects itself as it is indicated through theangle (α) in relation to the cover and body of the can. This allows theuser to only touch his/her lips on the labial mouthpiece hygienic device(1) avoiding, then, the contact with can's (L) parts that may havedirtiness.

In order to highlight hygienic device (1) configuration, when it isviewed from the top, the panel is smooth without any element whichenhances liquid outflow. On the other hand, when viewed from the bottom,it is possible to see the grab (5) applied on the bottom border on thearched side (3) which aims to fix the referred opening pourer.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates an alternative form of positioning of thedevice relation to the can (L) where it is fixed to the bottom portionin the referred can through an adhesive seal (S) that includes an edgeof removal (S1), which is slightly positioned in any point of the bottomside of the body can (L).

Adhesive seal (S) is removed by the user moments before the effectiveconsumption of the beverage inside the can (L), by pulling it throughedge removal (S1), condition specifically showed in FIG. 6 andpositioned together with opening pourer (V) of the can (L).

FIG. 7 shows another form of the hygienic device (1) together with canbody (L) where protection (6) is fixed on a point on the can (L) on aside for example by collage points or any other suitable manner.

Hygienic device (1) herein proposed by the constructive form presents ascorrelated characteristics the fact of being able to be used as avehicle of promotional advertising as it is schematically indicated inFIG. 3 wherein a promotional message is indicated by reference (M).

1. A discardable hygienic device for use as a hygienic element forready-to-drink beverages placed in aluminum cans (L) comprising: alabial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) being made of plastic and having ahalf-moon shape, said labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) including apair of support edges (2); an internal arch (3) being formed betweensaid pair of support edges (2) of said labial mouthpiece device (1); anexternal side (4) of said labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) oppositesaid internal arch (3), wherein said external side (4) enables saidlabial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) to be positioned on a cover (T) ofsaid can (L); and a grab (5) being formed on an interior side of saidinternal arch (3), said grab (5) being in the form of a folding on saidinterior side and having a thickness (x) dependent on the thickness ofan opening pourer (V) border of said cover (T).
 2. The discardablehygienic device as recited in claim 1, where said labial mouthpiecehygienic device (1) is packed in a protection capsule (6) bythermo-sealing and supplied together with said can (L) in a kitformation.
 3. The discardable hygienic device as recited in claim 1,wherein said labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) is formed of anatoxic, flexible and low hardness PVC having a range from 25 to 40 ShoreA.
 4. The discardable hygienic device as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) forms an arched contour whenfitted on the can (L) opening pourer (V) thereby positioning the supportedges (2) supported on the can (L) cover and beside the opening pore (V)while the internal arch (3) coincides with the opening pore (V) curve.5. The discardable hygienic device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlabial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) includes an angle (α) in relationto the can cover (T) while it is fitted in the opening pourer (V). 6.The discardable hygienic device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlabial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) is positioned by fixation on anypoint of said can (L).
 7. The discardable hygienic device as recited inclaim 6, wherein said device (1) is positioned on a bottom of said can(L) through an adhesive seal (S) that includes a removal edge (S1) thatis slightly positioned in any bottom side point of the can (L) body,wherein said adhesive seal (S) is removed by a user moments beforeconsuming a beverage inside the can (L) by pulling the removal edge (S1)in removing said labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) from saidprotection (6) and positioning said labial mouthpiece hygienic device(1) on the can (L) opening pourer (V).
 8. The discardable hygienicdevice as recited in claim 6, wherein said labial mouthpiece hygienicdevice (1) is positioned along the can (L) body with said protection (6)by fixation on said can (L) side.
 9. “DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE”, moreparticularly it refers to a labial mouthpiece hygienic device (1) usedas hygienic element for ready-to-drink beverage that are packed inaluminum cans (L), characterized by the fact the labial mouthpiecehygienic device (1) is made of a plastic panel that adopts a half-moonshape or similar, being able to compose support edges (2) interweaved bythe internal arched (3) in suitable ratio while external side (4) ofhalf-moon has ideal conformation and dimension that allows the device tobe fitted in the space limited by the cover (T) of the can (L); morespecifically in the inferior contour in the arched side (3) it isapplied a folding in the shape of a grab (5), where the thickness (x) isdimensioned due to the thickness of the cover (T) opening pourer (V)border; the device (1) is packed in a protection capsule (6), thermosealed, making a kit that is supplied together with the can (L). 10.“DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE”, according to what is claimed in 9,characterized by the fact that material employed to manufacture thepanel to be atoxic, flexible and low hardness PVC attending a range from25 to 40 Shore A.
 11. “DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE” according to what isclaimed in 9, characterized by the fact that the device may acquire amarched form when fitted on the can (L) opening pourer (V) keeping theedges (2) supported on the can (L) cover and beside the opening pourer(V) while the arched edge coincides with the opening pourer (V) curve.12. “DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE”, according to what is claimed in 9,characterized by the fact that the panel hygienic device (1) keepsitself projected in an angled way (α) in relation to the can cover andbody while it is fitted in the opening pourer (B).
 13. “DISCARDABLEHYGIENIC DEVICE” according to what is claimed in 9, characterized by thefact of contemplating, in a preferably construction, the mentioneddevice may be supplied positioned through collage points or any otherform; said fixation may be done not only on the cover (T) surface, butalso on the external surface of the bottom base or side of the can (L).14. “DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE” according to what is claimed in 9,characterized by the fact that in an alternative way, the position ofthe device in relation to the can (L) contemplates its fixation to thebottom portion of the mentioned can through an adhesive seal (S) thatincludes a removal edge (S1) that is slightly positioned in any bottomside point of the can body; adhesive seal (S) is removed by the usermoments before consuming beverage inside the can (L), being it pulledthrough the removal edge (S1), and after such operation, the hygienicdevice (1) may be removed from protection (6) and positioned together tothe can (L) opening pourer (V).
 15. “DISCARDABLE HYGIENIC DEVICE”according to what is claimed in 9, characterized by the fact that inanother way of positioning of the hygienic device (1) along the can (L)body, it is contemplated that the protection (6) that involves it isfixed to some point of the can (L) side through collage points or anyother suitable manner.